Paxil
Overview
- About Paxil
Paxil may impair your judgment, thinking, or motor skills. Do not drive, operate dangerous machinery, or participate in any hazardous activity that requires full mental alertness until you are sure the medication is not affecting you in this way.
Antidepressants such as Paxil could potentially cause stomach bleeding, especially when combined with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Consult your doctor before combining Paxil with NSAIDs or blood-thinning drugs.
Paxil contains paroxetine, which is associated with serotonin syndrome. Symptoms include agitation, confusion, sweating, hallucinations, abnormal reflexes, muscle spasms, shivering, rapid heartbeat, and tremors. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
It's best to avoid an abrupt discontinuation of Paxil therapy. It can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, abnormal dreams, and tingling sensations. To prevent such problems, your doctor will reduce your dose gradually.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Paxil
Return to topRemember that Paxil must never be combined with thioridazine or MAO inhibitors such as phenelzine and tranylcypromine, or taken within 2 weeks of starting or stopping an MAO inhibitor.
If Paxil is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Paxil with any of the following:
- Alcohol
- Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine, fluoxetine, imipramine, and nortriptyline
- Aspirin
- Cimetidine
- Diazepam
- Digoxin
- Flecainide
- Linezolid
- Lithium
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen
- Phenobarbital
- Phenytoin
- Pimozide
- Procyclidine
- Propafenone
- Propranolol
- Quinidine
- St. John's wort
- Sumatriptan
- Theophylline
- Thioridazine
- Tramadol
- Triptans (a class of medication used to treat migraines; examples include sumatriptan and zolmitriptan)
- Tryptophan
- Warfarin
